Why Did the Justice Party Reject the Democratic Party's Proposal for Dual Special Investigations?

Justice refuses Fast Track and demands Judiciary Committee submission
"A strategy to strengthen negotiation power between the two major parties," analysis

The Democratic Party of Korea-led '50 Billion Club and Kim Geon-hee Stock Manipulation' dual special investigation fast-track processing within this month has failed. The Justice Party, holding the key to the dual special investigation, has effectively rejected the Democratic Party's proposal for fast-track processing of the dual special investigation and is increasing its negotiating power between the two major parties by demanding the submission of the bill to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee from the People Power Party.

On the morning of the 30th, the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee will submit and discuss the Daejang-dong 50 Billion Club special investigation law.

The Democratic Party originally planned to designate the dual special investigation as a fast-track agenda at the plenary session on the same day, but it was thwarted due to opposition from the Justice Party. Fast-track processing requires 180 seats, so the Democratic Party (169 seats) needs the cooperation of the Justice Party.

The Justice Party insists that the dual special investigation bill should be thoroughly discussed in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and processed according to procedure. On the 29th, after a party meeting, Justice Party floor leader Lee Eun-ju and lawmakers Kang Eun-mi and Ryu Ho-jeong met with People Power Party floor leader Joo Ho-young to demand the submission of the 50 Billion Club special investigation bill to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. This was effectively a rejection of the Democratic Party's fast-track designation proposal.

In political circles, the Justice Party's stance is analyzed as a strategy to increase its presence in the ongoing negotiations on electoral system reform in the National Assembly. The number of Justice Party seats in next year's general election could change depending on the reform outcome. In April 2019, minor parties including the Justice Party accepted the Democratic Party's 'big deal' on judicial reform and electoral system reform, introducing a semi-proportional representation system favorable to small parties. However, at that time, the two major parties created satellite parties, which ultimately nullified the intended positive effects of the semi-proportional representation system.

There is also analysis that this is an intention to break away from criticism of being the 'Democratic Party's second team' stemming from incidents like the Cho Kuk scandal. The Justice Party aims to maintain an appropriate distance from the Democratic Party's party line. Recently, the Justice Party adopted the waiver of parliamentary immunity as its party line and voted in favor of the arrest consent bill for Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party leader.

On the 29th, Lee Eun-joo, the floor leader of the Justice Party, and party members visited the floor leader's office of the People Power Party at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, demanding the processing of the so-called "Double Special Prosecutor" (Special Prosecutor for the 5 Billion Club and Special Prosecutor for First Lady Kim Keon-hee) and the amendment bills of Articles 2 and 3 of the Labor Union Act, known as the Yellow Envelope Act. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Floor leader Lee agreed with the analysis that the Justice Party's submission of the special investigation bill to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee is a strategy to increase negotiating power between the two major parties. On the 30th, on YTN Radio's 'News King with Park Ji-hoon,' he said, "Since the National Assembly is a place where the ruling and opposition parties compromise, negotiate, and coordinate together, the Justice Party is playing its role as a political party in the National Assembly."

However, Lee said that the Justice Party did not reject the Democratic Party's proposal but that there were differences in perspectives on the special investigation. Lee explained, "The reason the public agrees to the special investigation is to properly investigate the suspicions. Therefore, the Justice Party persuaded and pressured the People Power Party, and the National Assembly went through a process of compromise, negotiation, and coordination to solve the problem. Only yesterday (the 29th) was the decision made to submit the bill to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee."

Regarding criticism that the failure of the dual special investigation fast-track means the 'Kim Geon-hee special investigation law' is effectively dead, he responded, "There is no change in the position to propose the Kim Geon-hee special investigation law." Lee suggested that discussions could continue because the deliberation period for the Kim Geon-hee special investigation law has not yet passed.

Lee explained, "The Kim Geon-hee special investigation law has not yet passed the 20-day deliberation period. According to the National Assembly Act, this hurdle must be cleared before the bill can be immediately submitted." He added, "If the People Power Party again fundamentally rejects the submission of the 'Kim Geon-hee special investigation law,' it would be tantamount to the People Power Party declaring itself a pro-Kim Geon-hee shield party. The Justice Party will not stand by if the National Assembly actually degenerates into such a shield National Assembly."

The Justice Party evaluates that its role was significant in confirming the submission of the 50 Billion Club special investigation law to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. Ryu Ho-jeong, the Justice Party's floor spokesperson, said at a press conference on the 29th, "The confirmation of the submission of the 50 Billion Club special investigation law to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee was a result led by the Justice Party," adding, "The special investigation is for uncovering the truth and realizing judicial justice, not for offensive attacks against the ruling party or government. It should not be reduced to political strife or used as a strategy to undermine the prosecution's investigation."

Ryu also emphasized, "The Justice Party will monitor the discussion of the special investigation law in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and the progress of the prosecution's investigation, and if the public is not convinced by the results, we promise to activate the 50 Billion Club special investigation law within the term of the 21st National Assembly."